Charlotte FC edge New York City FC with late goals

Idan Toklomati and Kerwin Vargas scored in the second half to give Charlotte FC their first road win of the season.

Apr. 19, 2026 at 2:19am

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A fractured, geometric painting breaking down a soccer match into abstract shapes and planes of color, with the ball and goal as the central focal points.Charlotte FC's late comeback stuns New York City FC in a visually striking, cubist-inspired depiction of the match's dramatic conclusion.NYC Today

Charlotte FC defeated New York City FC 2-1 on Saturday night, with second-half goals from Idan Toklomati and Kerwin Vargas securing the victory for the visitors. Kristijan Kahlina made seven saves for Charlotte, who avenged their playoff loss to NYCFC last season. Nicolas Fernandez scored a late goal for the home team, but it was not enough to prevent Charlotte from earning their first road win of the 2026 MLS season.

Why it matters

This result is an important one for Charlotte FC, who have struggled on the road this season. The win moves them into a tie for third place in the Eastern Conference, while NYCFC's winless streak extends to four games, dropping them further down the table.

The details

Toklomati opened the scoring in the 54th minute, tapping in a pass from Harry Toffolo after Wilfried Zaha created the opportunity. Vargas then doubled Charlotte's lead in the 90th minute, firing a left-footed shot inside the left post. Fernandez pulled one back for NYCFC in stoppage time, but it was not enough to prevent the home team from falling to their fourth straight defeat.

  • The match was played on Saturday night, April 19, 2026.
  • Toklomati scored in the 54th minute.
  • Vargas scored in the 90th minute.
  • Fernandez scored in the third minute of stoppage time in the second half.

The players

Idan Toklomati

A midfielder for Charlotte FC who scored the opening goal in the 54th minute.

Kerwin Vargas

A forward for Charlotte FC who scored the game-winning goal in the 90th minute.

Kristijan Kahlina

The goalkeeper for Charlotte FC who made seven saves to preserve the victory.

Nicolas Fernandez

A midfielder for New York City FC who scored the team's lone goal in stoppage time.

Matthew Freese

The goalkeeper for New York City FC who made two saves in the match.

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What they’re saying

“We knew this was going to be a tough match, but the team showed a lot of character to come away with the three points.”

— Idan Toklomati, Midfielder, Charlotte FC

“It's frustrating to lose another close game, but we'll keep working to turn things around.”

— Nicolas Fernandez, Midfielder, New York City FC

What’s next

Charlotte FC will look to build on this road win when they host the Philadelphia Union on April 26. New York City FC, meanwhile, will try to snap their four-game winless streak when they visit the Columbus Crew on April 23.

The takeaway

This victory is an important step forward for Charlotte FC, who have struggled to pick up points away from home this season. The late heroics from Toklomati and Vargas showed the team's resilience and ability to grind out a result on the road. For NYCFC, the loss extends their frustrating run of form and raises questions about their ability to bounce back and challenge for a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.